Short Summary

Solomon Islands, the British Protectorate lying between the New Hebrides and New Guinea was formally granted independence on Friday (7 July) at the beginning of a week of planned celebrations.

Description

Solomon Islands, the British Protectorate lying between the New Hebrides and New Guinea was formally granted independence on Friday (7 July) at the beginning of a week of planned celebrations. The Solomon Islands became a British Protectorate in 1893 and until 1952 were governed from Fiji. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester represented the Queen at the celebrations. The Australian Broadcasting Commission's Neville Petersen, In Honiara, the capital, reports that the government's most pressing problem will be to convince many of its people that the change is a beneficial one.